Macbeth

By William Shakespeare

Macbeth takes place in a brutalised country torn apart by civil war, tyrants become kings; women, warriors. The ‘Scotland’ of our modern era becomes influenced by images from recent events in central Africa, where whole sections of the population have been massacred; brutal maiming and rapes have become accustomed weapons of war and where child soldiers are commonplace. This site-specific production draws out the story of the military hero who is spurred on by his ambitious wife, and dangerously fascinated with witchcraft, unfolding in an African state torn apart by war.

The show transformed mills, factories, backstage areas, fringe theatres and a historic manor house, and earlier this year it played at the 1850s Wilton’s Music Hall in London’s East End. It was a sell-out at every venue, receiving critical acclaim and regular standing ovations.

‘Stafford-Clark’s direction and Es Devlin’s design create a horrifically convincing milieu and implicate us in the tragedy while allowing us to assess its contemporary relevance. This is the full Macbeth experience.’ Guardian

‘a visceral and intelligent evocation of the stuff of ancient and modern nightmares, it works like a dream. Here’s to Out of Joint’s next ten years.’ The Times